I do wonder if a true cleanup is ever possible, worldwide. Think about all the land mines and tiny cluster munitions spread out all over. I feel sad for all the children who will be maimed or killed by these irresponsible and unethical weapons. But I don’t have much hope for being able to comprehensively clear the land of these things.
The war in Ukraine has now gone on for more than two and a half years. At one point The Guardian reported that Ukraine has become the most mined country in the world, with Russia laying down literally millions of mines. In some areas Ukranian forces have uncovered five mines per square meter. The estimate is that using state of the art technology it would take centuries to clear all the mines, and that's not accounting for the fact that Russia is actively in the process of putting down more. Until we reach a more civil level of society, I don't think a true cleanup is possible.
Ukraine wouldn't have been able to stop the Russian invasion without profligate use of land mines and cluster munitions. People at risk of being overrun have to use whatever weapons they can. They don't have the luxury of being able to worry about responsibility or ethics. War is hell.
